Scam warning. Please read and share

Blulu

I wanted to warn you all about a scam call I got this morning. It was an automated voice saying that my internet connection would be terminated in 24 hours, asking me to press one of two numbers. Thankfully, I didn't press any numbers. I then searched and found this was definitely a scam call. I've reported it to Action Fraud and to Sky (Sky wanted to charge me just over £3 to block the number - grrrr!) Hope this doesn't happen to any of you. If it does, just hang up.

Blu XXX

Ms_Dee

Thanks for the warning, there are a lot of scams about at the moment, including so many fake winning messages and things via social media competitions, I'm getting sick of them all. Unfortunately people must fall for the scams though or it wouldn't be worth people putting the effort in to do them.

Most mobiles let you block the number from your device itself for free. 
You can also join the TPS - Telephone Preference Service, if you haven't already, which should stop quite a few unsolicited calls, but they can't stop them all, so still need to be vigilant. 

Blulu

Thank you for that Ms_Dee, I will definitely try that.

Blu XXX

mjm3346

Sadly very common, I had 5! on the landline this Monday morning - automated voice twice (I just hung up) an actual person but after I had spoken they hung up, then another real person who could not provide me with the password I had agreed with BT for me to engage with them (they tried a few times with the line number and made up stuff but it would be difficult as there isn't one) and finally another automated one this time claiming to be from Amazon - BT have 1572 call block so you can block the last number that called but none of the 5 could be blocked.

One-Eye

Asking the caller for a password that you have previously agreed - brilliant idea @mjm3346

Blocking numbers is a waste of time as they use "Caller ID spoofing" and never use the same number twice - this is illegal but  scammers don't care. Registering with TPS tends to only block legitimate companies - again scammers don't care.

Phone scams I have encountered:
Amazon - your Amazon Prime is being renewed (recorded voice)
Amazon - An order has been placed on your account (recorded voice)
BT or OpenReach - Your internet has been compromised (often a recorded voice)
PPI - your PPI will be payed out if you purchase a qualifying investment
HMRC - An arrest warrant will be issued if you don't respond (recorded voice)
Various - Your maintenance/warranty on your TV/Washer/fridge etc has expired
Life Insurance - Review to save you money.
Recent Car Crash - seems to be rare nowadays

Annoying, but not strictly scams:
Perfect Benefits/Beneficial - answer a few household questions (and receive calls from the companies involved). Tell them you are 87 years old and they don't go ahead.
Various Energy Companies/Brokers - We will save you money on gas/electricity.

Dan29

Thanks for the warning, Blu! There's another one doing the rounds at the moment where an automated message tells you that your National Insurance number has been "compromised", and invites you to "Press 1 to avoid arrest"..! 

If we're talking landlines I believe you can buy phones or other devices that only allow recognised numbers through, sending the others to answerphone. I haven't tried them though, as I don't use my landline  

bluesooz

Our landline phone displays the number of the caller and we don't answer if we don't recognise it - they will leave a message if it's important. 
 However, the mother in law (in her 80s) gets so upset by these spam calls, no matter how often we try to reassure her they are just  fraudsters and to just put the phone down.  Even though she has no computer/amazon accounts etc she will worry and ring us to check her bank balance etc to cancel whatever it is.  And yes she has been known to press 1 to avoid charges etc

pleaseme

I have had  the internet scam on my landline l just put the phone down and on my mobile I’m constantly getting the NI scam call.  I just block them when it’s on my mobile 

topaz13

We have a BT call blocker phone - it can be used on any network (we're on Virgin). Basically, if the number isn't in your contacts, then the caller will hear a message asking them to identify themselves. The phone then rings, tells me its an announced call and who its from, I can then decide if I want to answer or not. If I don't answer, then it goes to the answerphone. If the caller doesn't respond to the phone message, then it doesn't ring my end and the call is terminated. Automated calls don't answer,  so they don't get through. When I pick up the handset, I can see on the screen how many calls have been blocked and the number that they called from. Some days it can be 6 or 7. Best £50 I spent! 

roddydogs

Why not press 1, string them along and have a laugh?

203846930

roddydogs said:

Why not press 1, string them along and have a laugh?

I always do this when I get one of these calls, my record so far is to get passed to 2 different people after the first and the call lasted 17 minutes with me constantly telling them that I don't use Amazon so my account can't be compromised but they still persisted.